Kettering 'cannot hide' from racism problem at club after 'sickening abuse'

Kettering Town says it "can no longer hide" from the issue of racism after a visiting Redditch player was allegedly subjected to "sickening" abuse. Kettering Town's director of football said the club could no longer hide behind "the comforting lie" that the abuse came from "a small minority" Non-league Kettering Town have said they "can no longer hide" from the issue of racism after a visiting player was allegedly subjected to "sickening" abuse. Redditch United player Dan Sweeney said he was targeted by a Kettering supporter during Saturday's Southern League Premier Division Central tie at the Poppies' Latimer Park stadium, which the hosts won 2-1. The incident comes after a match official reported alleged racial abuse at a Kettering fixture last season, and a previous instance of alleged racist abuse against a Redditch player at Latimer Park in 2017.

In a statement, Kettering director of football Fabian Forde said the "poison" of racism went beyond matchdays. He also spoke out against the presence of what he called "festering" racism on the club's fans forums. Writing on the club's website, external, Forde said: "Let's be completely honest with ourselves: this is not the first time. We can no longer hide behind the comforting lie that 'it's just a small minority' or 'they don't reflect the majority of our fans'. "Every single